Green Options

All hybrids have some type of premium associated with them that makes them more expensive than their conventional counterparts, but is that premium really worth it when you consider cost versus reduced environmental impact and fuel savings? It’s a question that thrift-conscious and green-minded consumers often find themselves asking when doing new car research.

It’s a tough question to answer and one that will clearly be different for each individual based on how important it is to reduce environmental impact and fossil fuel use. Yet, even though the process is highly subjective, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has developed the Hybrid Scorecard to help consumers determine if that premium is worth it for each hybrid on the market.

According to chief chassis engineer for Honda’s CR-Z, the much-hyped hybrid was heavily influenced by the Lotus Elise.

Terukazu Torikai said–via YouTube subtitles–that the basic concept for the CR-Z was to be fun to drive. In fact, the car was not only inspired by Lotus. The MINI Cooper and Volkswagen’s Scirocco also played a part in its design. I’m just happy we’ve moved past the original Insight (fugly).

Porsche will not build hybrid versions of the 911 and Boxster, according to CEO Michael Macht.

While the company will make a hybrid Cayenne, they have no interest in altering their sports car lineup. Enthusiasts can now breathe a sigh of relief. The Cayenne SUV and the 4-door Panamera have been a sore subject amongst Porsche purists.

Carscoop has photos of what seems to be a production model of the Lexus LF-Ch hatchback.

The car made its debut at last year’s Frankfurt motor show. Lexus made it clear they would build the five-door car when Andy Pfeiffenberger, vice president of Lexus Europe, said “Let me stress you are not looking at a market study. This LF-Ch concept is a clear indication of our entry plans for the compact premium segment in the near future, with the world’s first ever premium compact, full hybrid.”

Think about all the cool cars in Mitsubishi’s lineup.

Chances are, you could only think of one; the Lancer Evolution.

Turbocharged, 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive; the perfect prescription for New England snowfall and the doldrums of conventional family sedans. It has worked for Mitsubishi for years now, and a cult of fanboys (and girls) has cropped up around this car. So why would Mitsubishi consider making it a hybrid?

The U.S. Army proudly showed off its new Clandestine Electric Reconnaissance Vehicle (CERV) at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last week, and let’s just say that on looks this diesel-electric hybrid can’t compete with eye candy like Toyota’s new FT-CH Prius concept. But, at least it gets you where you want to go - with a 25% reduction in fuel consumption.

As the owner of the world’s largest fleet of vehicles, the U.S. Army is on an all-out drive to adopt sustainable new fuels and hybrid technologies to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. The CERV is just one part of a  U.S. military research and development program that includes energy storage, power and thermal management, robotics, and survivability as well as vehicle design.

Toyota Motor Corp. will double its production of hybrid vehicles to 1 million units by 2011.

Currently, Toyota is the leader in low-emission vehicles with more than 10 hybrid models in its lineup. The car maker produced 500,000 hybrid units in 2009; 8-percent of its overall production. It’s planning for 800,000 hybrids this year alone and 1.1 million come 2012.

Today at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota, in conjunction with its Gazoo Racing development team, launched the GRMN Sports Hybrid concept car (that last link is to a Japanese page that is translated with Google translate… some of the translation is a really good laugh).

Reportedly, the car is based on the outgoing MR2 platform and packs a serious punch by combining a 3.3 liter V6 to drive the rear wheels and an electric motor to power the front wheels using the company’s THSII hybrid system. The 4WD sports car develops 392 horsepower and apparently can go from 0-60 in under 4.5 seconds. Not only that, Autocar UK is reporting that the car has the ability to drive in electric vehicle mode in the city.

If you’re going to deliver half the world’s mail, you might as well do it with fuel-efficient vehicles, and, of course, deliver it on foot in as many communities around the country as you can.

While stymied by financial losses ($3.8 billion in 2008), the US Postal Service continues to commit resources and practice innovation when it comes to adopting fuel efficient delivery vehicles. After all, they had an all-electric delivery vehicle on the road – in 1899 (manufactured by the Winton Company).

Today, three-wheel electric vehicles, called T3s (seen to the left), are being tested as possible replacements for traditional gasoline delivery vehicles in Florida, California, Texas and Arizona. The T3 has a range of 40 miles, a maximum speed of 12 mph and a load capacity of 450 pounds. Powered by two rechargeable modules, the T3 has zero tailpipe emissions and costs 4 cents a mile to operate.

Honda has taken the wraps off the final production version of the 2011 CR-Z hybrid sports car that will start hitting U.S. dealer showrooms in late summer of this year. The car has held on to many of the styling aspects that gave the concept versions a sleek modern look while clearly harkening back to the beloved original Honda CR-X.

A study came out today saying that electric cars–both battery electric and plug-in hybrids–would make up as much as 16-percent of new car sales in New York City come 2015. That’s roughly 70,000 vehicles.

But what’s driving these EV sales? Governments are expected to impose higher restrictions on CO2 emissions, for one. Plus, subsidies and tax benefits for EVs are expected to increase.